Daniel Campbell

I'm taking part in the TCS London Marathon 2027 with #TeamStroke

The morning of January 6th 2024, I had just finished my shift unloading lorry’s at Billingsgate fish market, I got on my motorbike and started to make my way home after a long night’s work. When i arrived home I had received a text from my mum asking "when you're home give me a call" not thinking much of it, I got my bike gear off and gave her a call, I was told not to panic or worry but my Granddad had fallen whilst having a stroke, I was told to go to bed as I had been working all night and if anything changed, I would receive a phone call. From pure exhaustion from work and my mind racing I somehow manged to fall asleep instantly but that sleep didn't last long.

A little over an over later I received a call from mum. "I think you should come down to the hospital, get an uber and I’ll pay for it as I don't want you riding down on such little sleep". I then got dressed while still half asleep and ordered an uber. That was only a 20-minute journey to the hospital but felt a lot longer. I arrived called to see where they all was and made my way to his room.

When I walked into the room that my Grandad was in, surrounded by my Nan, Mum and Auntie and I could see just how serious this was. My funny, caring, strong grandad looked a shadow of what we all knew and I realised that this was way more serious and the next few hours were going to change our lives forever. The consultant explained that they were going to refer Grandad to Kings College hospital to put a stent in as he also had a medical emergency put out by the nursing staff as he become un responsive and had difficulty with his breathing. Sadly, just a couple of hours later with more family by Grandads beside side, my Nan, Mum and Auntie was called in by the Consultant. About 20 minutes later Mum with tears in her eyes asked us all to come into the office to hear from the consultant, instantly my stomach was churning and I could feel my heart racing. The next moment I heard the devasting news that Kings College Hospital would not take my dear Grandad as his condition had worsened and the consultant felt that Grandad was nearing the end of his life from having a Stroke. The room changed in an instant, all I can remember was holding my family in hugs, trying to be strong and hold back the tears to support my mum and family. In essence we knew that our lives would change forever, no more seeing our dog jump up on Grandad and try to steal his teeth, or lay across his tummy for his hugs and tickles, no more texts with his jokes on or the words Love you at the end of his text.

From receiving the news, we made sure that other family members who would want to be there and see Grandad were contacted. We sat with grandad, held his hand but we also had to make sure he had his hankie in his pj’s pocket as he always had a hankie to hand. We carried on talking about the funny things that Grandad would do and the memories that we all hold dear to us.

The next decision was going to be if I wanted to stay with Grandad when he took his last breath, my mum said it was my decision and after having no sleep and the emotional rollercoaster that we had been through, I decided that I would go home and mum would call me to update me in the morning or sooner if need be. I didn’t want to see my dear Grandad take his last breath as I wanted to remember him how he was before this stroke and as to how I knew him all my life, holding my hand to walk to the shops to buy sweets or in his armchair having cuddles with him on a sleepover or having all the dogs run straight to his chair to see him, even the dogs knew where the best seat with the best Grandad was in. Food shopping on Friday night with Grandad was great fun, we got to get treats that our mum wouldn’t buy. Coco pop straws and full fat milk, haribo’s and chocolate were top of the list and the priority, way before Grandad started on his food shop. Family holidays, or day trips to the beach to play the 2p machines and watching me play football on a cold wet Saturday morning. I have such great memories and are so thankful for the times we spent together.

Christmas Eve 2023, we all sat at a make shift table to celebrate our Christmas, as mum had started a new job as Cabin Crew for an airline and was working all over Christmas. Grandad enjoyed spending time all together as a family. I had recently proposed to my Girlfriend and thankfully she had accepted, many discussions were had and we had thought about our wedding and that we would probably marry abroad. Mum had said to us tell Grandad about what we had been thinking about our wedding so we had a chat and explained our thoughts and he said how great it would be and that us boys could have a swift drink at the bar before the ceremony and whilst the ladies were getting ready. He was excited and then came the stories from his stag and other stag’s and weddings. He could tell great stories from his life and it always made us laugh as he was quite the story teller.

Grandad had a fitting funeral, it was a tough day for us all but the crematorium was packed with family, friends and ex work colleagues with many a story told.  He wasn’t a flower person and would say that for him the flowers would be wasted and he would much rather a donation to a respective charity to help research and other families etc. With this in mind, at Christmas my dad had told Grandad about the Ironman that he was competing in, in August 2024 in Frankfurt. Grandad thought that Dad was a nutter and that it would have been way better if it involved a pub crawl. As a family we sat down and Dad said that he would like to raise money for the stroke association in his memory. So a plan was hatched and come August 2024 when he completed the Ironman Dad had raised £1500 in Loving memory for the Stroke Association. I was so proud of my dad and what he had achieved and the hard work that he had put in to achieve this. Fast forward to the ballot for the London Marathon 2026 I applied for the ballot and a charity place with the stroke association and was unsuccessful but was wait listed. For the same London Marathon Ballot for 2026 my mum had also applied and when she got her Ballot place after really not expecting to as she only used to run if there was an emergency at work, a bath or for last orders at the pub she was successful in getting a place and knew that she wanted to do this for her Dad and also her cousin who passed away with a stroke at 44 years old in the August of 2024. Mum knew that there was only one charity that she would do this for and that was for your charity. So currently the day before the London marathon of 2026 she had wanted to raise £1000 but has surpassed this and currently sits at £1280.00.

I am so proud of my parents trying to make some good come out of the devastation that the Strokes has blindsided my family that I too want to raise money and do my part and make my Grandad proud.

As a family we really want to raise as much money and awareness of Strokes, in hope that it helps other families and they don’t go through what we have as a family.